Chelsea FC
Chelsea FC
Kendry Paez will not force his way into Xabi Alonso’s plans anytime soon. The teenager is back at Cobham after a shortened loan spell. Chelsea, however, have chosen patience over panic, as per the latest news. Fans hoping for a senior breakthrough may have to wait until January.
Kendry Paez Returns to Cobham Under Alonso
No exit route appeared before deadline day, so Kendry Paez stays with the Blues at Cobham. A proposed loan collapsed just before the summer deadline. As reported by TEAMtalk, the club was simply unable to arrange a short-term stay in England before the window closed. So, for now, his first-team **football**stays confined to the training pitches rather than a matchday squad.
This is already the second loan spell to end early for the youngster. He first left for Strasbourg, then moved on to River Plate in Argentina. Neither stint brought him the regular minutes he needed. Since joining from Independiente del Valle, he has made no senior appearances for the first team. The club, remarkably, struck that deal when he was only 16.
Alonso addressed the situation directly this week. He confirmed that the youngster “is not part of the plans” before the new year. Instead, the teenager will train with the club’s Under-21 group. There, he will work on the basics that could still shape a future at the top level. That plan keeps him firmly away from first-team action.
Kendry Paez for River Plate in 2026, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Goals Assists Chances Created
Liga Profesional 10 1 0 9
Copa Sudamericana 4 0 1 4
Kendry Paez for Strasbourg in 2025/26, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Goals Chances Created
Ligue 1 15 1 6
Conference League 6 0 6
Chelsea Weigh Options for a New Loan
Chelsea’s internal preference still points toward one of Europe’s five major leagues. Officials believe the level of competition there would help him grow faster. That stance narrowed the options in late August. By then, the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 windows had already closed. As a result, an immediate loan elsewhere in those competitions became impossible.
Celtic were reportedly among the clubs keen on a deal before the deadline passed. As reigning Premiership champions, they saw him as a possible attacking addition. However, talks never advanced. Meanwhile, no other suitor matched Chelsea’s demands either.
From a development standpoint, that caution looks reasonable. Two loans cut short within a single year rarely help a young player build confidence. Rushing Kendry Paez into another unfamiliar league might only delay his progress further. A settled spell at Cobham, even without matches, could still do more for his long-term prospects than another mismatched move. Still, expectations should stay realistic.
Chelsea FC
Chelsea FC
What Next for Kendry Paez This Season
A fresh loan in January remains the most realistic path forward. Given the club’s stated preference, scouts will likely focus first on Spain, Italy, Germany or France. That said, scouts should not rule out a Championship switch entirely once the winter window opens.
For now, though, the teenager must make the most of every day in training. Rebuilding sharpness with the Under-21 squad matters. So does adjusting to Alonso’s demands and staying visible to potential suitors. Consistency, more than anything, will decide whether interest turns into an actual offer. That will shape how clubs judge him next.
Kendry Paez still has time on his side at only 19. Plenty of scouts across the continent will be watching how he responds. Whether that response arrives at Cobham or somewhere else in Europe remains to be seen. Either way, the next few months should shape the rest of his season, and maybe his Chelsea career too.
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